Monday, April 25, 2011

The Greatest Marshall in the Old West–Bass Reeves

Fantastic story at The Art of Manliness on someone you may never have heard of: Bass Reeves.

Who was the greatest Deputy U.S. Marshal of the Old West?Wyatt Earp?Wild Bill Hickok?How about Bass Reeves? Bass who?Deputy U.S. Marshal Bass Reeves was arguably the greatest lawman and gunfighter of the West, a man who served as a marshal for 32 years in the most dangerous district in the country, captured 3,000 felons, (once bringing in 17 men at one time), and shot 14 men in the line of duty, all without ever being shot himself.He was also a black dude.To understand the story of Bass Reeves, you first need to understand a bit of the fascinating history of Oklahoma. Let’s start there.